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AN EXPERIENCE OF ^RACE 



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Baptist Sunday School Board 

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AN EXPEEIENCE OF GRACE 



THREE NOTABLE INSTANCES 

SAUL OF TARSUS, JOHN JASPER 
EDWARD EVERETT HALE, JR. 



" I know whom I have believed, and am 
persuaded that he Is able to keep that which 
I have committed unto him." — Paul. 



J. M. FROST 

Corresponding Secretary 



PRICE, POSTPAID 
CLOTH, 40 CTS.; PAPER, 25 CTS. 



Sunday School Board 

Southern Baptist Convention 

Nashville, Tbnn. 



I wo CoDJcs Heceivea 

JUN 1 1908 

50PY a, ' 



■^7 



coptbightbd 1908 

Sunday School Board Southern 

Baptist Convention 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Words of Introduction 9 

Section I. 
The Experience of Saul of Tarsus. Told "by 
Luke, the Beloved Physician, in his Acts 

of the Apostles 13 

His First Appearance in History. 
Making Havoc of the Church. 
Apprehended of Christ Jesus. 
Instructed in the Way of the Lord. 
Preaches What He Once Destroyed. 

Section II. 
The Experience of Saul of Tarsus. Told by 
Himself and Reported by Luke. Telling 
the Story to His Countrymen in Jeru- 
salem 20 

Tells How He Persecuted. 
Tells How the Lord Found Him. 
Tells How Ananias Came to Him. 
Tells of His Call to the Larger Work. 

Section III. 
The Experience of Saul of Tarsus, Who Was 
Also Called Paul. Told "by Himself as 
Prisoner in Audience with the King 24 

Reviewing His Former Life. 
Repeating the Wonderful Story. 
Interrupted in His Narrative. 
The Verdict of the King. 



b AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

Section IV. page. 
The Experience of Edward Everett Hale, Jr., 
as Told by Himself and Reported for the 
Papers by One Who Heard Him 30 

Not Expecting a Call from Christ. 
Came to the Cross through Prayer. 
Conscious of a Curious Change. 
A Decision to Follow Christ 



Section V. 
The Experience of Edward Everett Hale, Jr., 
as The Call of Christ, Told by Himself 
in a Watch-Service Address (December 
31, 1905), Written Out for the Epworth 
Herald, and Used Here by His Consent. . 36 

Christ in Place of Self. 

His Voice in the Heart. 

How the Change Came. 

Finding Christ Supreme. 

Section VI. 
The Experience of John Jasper, the Negro 
Preacher. Told by Dr. Wm. E. Hatcher, 
in The Baptist Argus, and Used Here by 
Consent of Writer and Editor 48 

At His Daily Task When the Change Came. 

Could Not Restrain the Good News. 

Recognizing a Work of Grace. 

Turned Loose to Tell His Story. 

The Glad Day Foreshadows the Joy to Come. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 7 

Section VII. page. 

The Experience of Edward Everett Hale, Jr., 
and How it Influenced His View of the 
Gospel of John. Told in the Sunday- 
School Times of February 2, 1908, and 
Used by Consent of Himself and of the 
Editor 58 

A Change in His View. 
Jesus Becomes Divine Saviour. 
A New Book Through Experience. 
A Golden Text for Every Day. 

Section VIII. 
The Experience of Saul of Tarsus, Who Was 
Also Called Paul, in Christian Doctrine 
and Life, as Teacher, Apostle, and 
Preacher. Told "by Himself from Time 
to Time 70 

His Conviction of the Lordship of Jesus. 

His Conviction Regarding the Scriptures. 

His Experience (or Spiritual Apprehension) of 

the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. 
An Experience of Personal Revelation in Christ. 
His Experience Severely Tested. 
Reviewing His Experience. 
In the Fulness of Persuasion. 
The Glorious Consummation. 



8 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

Section IX. page. 
Experience of Edward Everett Hale, Jr., and 
How it Changed His Views of tlie Resur- 
rection of Jesus and of the Call of the 
Risen Christ. Told by Himself and Pub- 
lished in the Sunday School Times of 
April 4th, 1908. Used Here by Permis- 
sion , . 86 

An Old Word with New Meaning. 

An Experience of Abiding Power. 

Experience Yersus Arguments. 

Very Simple to tlie Believing Heart. 

Section. X. 

Lessons from the Three 95 

Facts to Be Accounted For. 
Wrought in the Deeper Nature. 
Manhood and Christian Doctrine. 
With the Accent of Conviction. 
The Creed of Imperial Power. 



WORDS OF INTEODUCTION 

This booklet explains itself. It presents 
three men who had little in common, and were 
much unlike in many things. Saul of Tarsus 
was richly endowed with what nature can give, 
and represents the highest culture and school 
training of his times ; Edward Everett Hale, 
Jr., brought up in a New England home and 
having the best culture of this age, with all 
that can be had through school and home, 
represents civilization at its highest without 
grace; John Jasper scarcely stands for any- 
thing from which to hope good may come. 
A rude specimen of his race, he was as far 
removed from the other two men as imagina- 
tion can place them — and even further. 

And yet I have ventured to bring these 
three men together — Saul of Tarsus, Edward 
Everett Hale, Jr., and John Jasper! What a 
trio for contrast in the eyes of the world! 
What a trio, too, for comparison in the work- 
ing of God's Spirit and in the saving power 
of the cross! They tell their own story, and 
need not one word from my pen. They speak 
the language of Zion, and will awaken the 
glad song in renewed souls. 



10 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

The experience of grace — if it comes within 
the sphere of definition — is an experience of 
the human heart when wrought upon by the 
Spirit of God. As the Scriptures say con- 
cerning Lydia, "whose heart the Lord opened 
that she attended to the things which were 
spoken;" and "the love of God is shed abroad 
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is 
given unto us;" "the Spirit himself beareth 
witness with our spirits that we are the chil- 
dren of God ;" "thou hearest the sound thereof 
but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither 
it goeth;" and yet in his coming and going 
there remains this, viz., "We know we have 
passed from death unto life," and no knowl- 
edge is more certain, or more definite and 
powerful. 

This is knowing God, and his Son, Jesus 
Christ, whom he hath sent into the world. 
This gives an "experiential character," with an 
"experiential" relation to the doctrines of 
grace. "Whereas I was blind, now I see." 
That is the final word for one's self, and is in- 
vincible. It is the word of conquest. 

These three men knew whereof they spoke ; 
and they have something to tell. Their voice 
bears testimony to the grace of God; their 
song, in whatever language, is the song of 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. H 

redeeming love. "The blood of his Son Jesus 
Christ cleanseth us from all sin'' — this gives 
common standing ground with the saved, is 
a basic fact in the scheme of redemption, a 
mighty and sufficient factor in Christian ex- 
perience. 

I have set these three notable instances to- 
gether, in the hope of inducing a fresh reading 
of the story of Saul of Tarsus, and a compari- 
son of his conversion with the two of modern 
times — and theirs with his. Though so much 
unlike, there is yet wonderful likeness in their 
experience of grace as they came to know 
Christ as their personal Saviour, and in the 
forgiveness of sin. They all give him corona- 
tion in their hearts, and crown him King of 
kings and Lord of lords. They tell a remark- 
able story. I make way for them and let them 
speak for themselves. Their joyous testimony 
is the song which the redeemed are ever sing- 
ing : "Unto Him that loved us and washed 
us from our sins in His own blood, and hath 
made us kings and priests unto God : to him 
be glory and dominion for ever and ever. 
Amen" — and Amen. 



WHAT CHRIST SAID FOE HIMSELF 

Ye believe in God, believe also in me. I am the 
Way, the Truth, and the Life. He that hath seen 
me, hath seen the Father. If any man will do his 
will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of 
God. The Spirit of truth shall guide you into' all 
truth. He shall glorify me : for he shall receive of 
mine, and shall show it unto you. 

And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto 
myself. I lay down my life. I have power to lay 
it down, and I have power to take it again. I am 
the resurrection and the life. Come unto me, all ye 
that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you 
rest. He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 

Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and 
blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father 
which is in heaven. Thomas, because thou hast 
seen me thou hast believed; blessed are they that 
have not seen, and yet have believed. 

O Righteous Father, I will that they also whom 
thou hast given me, be with me where I am ; that 
they may behold my glory, which thou hast given 
me; for thou lovedst me before the foundation of 
the world. This is life eternal, that they might 
know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, 
whom thou hast sent. 



SECTION I. 

THE EXPERIENCE OP SAUL. OP TARSUS— TOLD 
BY LUKE, THE BELOVED PHYSICLA.N, IN HIS 
ACTS OP THE APOSTLES. 

His First Appearance in History. 

And the word of God increased; and the 
number of the disciples multipHed in Jeru- 
salem greatly; and a great company of the 
priests were obedient to the faith. And Ste- 
phen, full of faith and power, did great won- 
ders and miracles among the people. 

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, 
which is called the synagogue of the Liber- 
tines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and 
of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with 
Stephen. And they were not able to resist the 
wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, 
and the scribes, and came upon hiniy and 
caught him, and brought him to the council, 
and all that sat in the council, looking stead- 
fastly on him, saw his face as it had been 
the face of an angel. 



14 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked 
up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory 
of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand 
of God, and said. Behold, I see the heavens 
opened, and the Son of man standing on the 
right hand of God. 

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and 
stopped their ears, and ran upon him with 
one accord, and cast him out of the city, and 
stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their 
clothes at a young man's feet, whose name 
was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling 
upon Godj and saying. Lord Jesus, receive 
my spirit. 

And he kneeled down, and cried with a 
loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their 
charge. And when he had said this, he fell 
asleep. 

Making" Havoc of the Church. 

And Saul was consenting unto his death. 
And at that time there was a great persecu- 
tion against the church which was at Jeru- 
salem; and they were all scattered abroad 
throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, 
except the apostles. 

And devout men carried Stephen to his 
burial, and made great lamentation over him. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 15 

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, 
entering into every house, and haUng men 
and women committed them to prison. There- 
fore they that were scattered abroad went 
every where preaching the word. 

Apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings 
and slaughter against the disciples of the 
Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired 
of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, 
that if he found any of this way, whether they 
were men or women, he might bring them 
bound unto Jerusalem. 

And as he journeyed, he came near Damas- 
cus: and suddenly there shined round about 
him a light from heaven : and he fell to the 
earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, 
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And 
he said, Who art thou. Lord? And the Lord 
said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest : it is 
hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And 
he trembling and astonished said. Lord, what 
wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said 
unto him. Arise, and go into the city, and 
it shall be told thee what thou must do. 

And the men which journeyed with him 
stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing 



16 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

no man. And Saul arose from the earth ; and 
when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: 
but they led him by the hand, and brought 
him into Damascus. And he was three days 
without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 

Instructed in the Way of the Lord. 

And there was a certain disciple at Damas- 
cus, named Ananias ; and to him said the Lord 
in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, 
I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him. 
Arise, and go into the street which is called 
Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas 
for one called Saul of Tarsus : for, behold, 
he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man 
named Ananias coming in, and putting his 
hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 

Then Ananias answered. Lord, I have 
heard by many of this man, how much evil he 
hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: and 
here he hath authority from the chief priests 
to bind all that call on thy name. 

But the Lord said unto him. Go thy way: 
for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my 
name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the 
children of Israel: for I will shew him how 
great things he must suffer for my name's 
sake. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 17 

And Ananias went his way, and entered 
into the house ; and putting his hands on him 
said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that 
appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, 
hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy 
sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it 
had been scales : and he received sight forth- 
with, and arose, and was baptized. /Vnd when 
he had received meat, he was strengthened. 
Then was Saul certain days with the disciples 
which were at Damascus. 

Preaches What He Once Destroyed, 

And straightway he preached Christ in the 
synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But 
all that heard him were amazed, and said; 
Is not this he that destroyed them which called 
on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither 
for that intent, that he might bring them 
bound unto the chief priests? But Saul in- 
creased the more in strength, and confounded 
the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving 
that this is very Christ. 

And after that many days were fulfilled, 
the Jews took counsel to kill him: but their 
laying wait was known of Saul. And they 
watched the gates day and night to kill him. 



18 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

Then the disciples took him by night, and 
let him down by the wall in a basket. And 
when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed 
to join himself to the disciples : but they were 
all afraid of him, and believed not that he was 
a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and 
brought him to the apostles, and declared 
unto them how he had seen the Lord in the 
way, and that he had spoken to him, and how 
he had preached boldly at Damascus in the 
name of Jesus. And he was with them com- 
ing in and going out at Jerusalem. And he 
spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
and disputed against the Grecians : but they 
went about to slay him. Which when the 
brethren knew, they brought him down to 
Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. 

Then had the churches rest throughout all 
Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edi- 
fied; and walking in the fear of the Lord, 
and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were 
multiplied. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 19 



The Triumph of Grocrs Grrace. 

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound 

That saved a wretch like me ! 
I once was lost, but now am found ; 

Was blind, but now I see. 

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 

And grace my fears relieve; 
How precious did that grace appear, 

The hour I first believed. 

Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares, 

I have already come; 
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, 

And grace will lead me home. 

The Lord has promised good to me, 

His word, my hope secures. 
He will my shield and portion be. 

As long as life endures. 



20 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



SECTION II. 

THE EXPERIP:]NCE of SAUL OP TARSUS, TOLD 
BY HIMSELF AND REPORTED BY LUKE.— 
TELLING THE STORY TO HIS COUNTRYMEN 
IN JERUSALEM. ACTS 22: 1-21. 

Tells How He Persecuted. 

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my 
defense which I make now unto you, (And 
when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew 
tongue to them, they kept the more silence: 
and he saith,) I am verily a man which am 
a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet 
brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, 
and taught according to the perfect manner 
of the law of the fathers, and was zealous 
toward God, as ye all are this day. 

And I persecuted this way unto the death, 
binding and delivering into prisons both men 
and women. As also the high priest doth 
bear me witness, and all the estate of the 
elders : from whom also I received letters unto 
the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring 
them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, 
for to be punished. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 21 

Tells How the Lord Found Him. 

And it came to pass, that, as I made my 
journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus 
about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven 
a great Hght round about me. And I fell unto 
the ground, and heard a voice saying unto 
me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 
And I answered, Who are thou. Lord? And 
he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, 
whom thou persecutest. And they that were 
with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid ; 
but they heard not the voice of him that spake 
to me. 

And I said. What shall I do. Lord? And 
the Lord said unto me. Arise, and go into 
Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of 
all things which are appointed for thee to do. 
And when I could not see for the glory of 
that light, being led by the hand of them that 
were with me, I came into Damascus. 

Tells How Ananias Came to Him, 

And one Ananias, a devout man according 
to the law, having a good report of all the 
Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and 
stood, and said unto me. Brother Saul, receive 
thy sight. And the same hour I looked up 
upon him. And he said. The God of our 



22 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest 
know his will, and see that Jnst One, and 
shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 

For thou shalt be his witness unto all men 
of what thou hast seen and heard. And now 
why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and 
wash away thy sins, calling on the name of 
the Lord. 

Tells of His Call to the Larg-er Work. 

And it came to pass, that, when I was come 
again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in 
the temple, I was in a trance; and saw him 
saying unto me. Make haste, and get thee 
quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not 
receive thy testimony concerning me. And 
I said. Lord, they know that I imprisoned and 
beat in every synagogue them that believed 
on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr 
Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, 
and consenting unto his death, and kept the 
raiment of them that slew him. 

And he said unto me. Depart: for I will 
send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. 

And they gave him audience unto this word, 
and then lifted up their voices, and said, 
Away with such a fellow from the earth : for 
it is not fit that he should live. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 23 



Kin§:ship and Lordship. 

All hail the power of Jesus' name, 

Let angels prostrate fall ; 
Bring forth the royal diadem, 

And crown him Lord of all. 

Ye chosen seed of Israel's race, 
A remnant weak and small. 

Hail him who saves you by his grace, 
And crown him Lord of all. 

Ye Gentile sinners, ne'er forget 
The wormwood and the gall ; 

Go, spread your trophies at his feet. 
And crown him Lord of all. 

Let every kindred, every tribe, 

On this terrestrial ball. 
To him all majesty ascribe, 

And crown him Lord of all. 



24 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



SECTION III. 

THE EXPERIENCE OF SAUL OP TARSUS, WHO 
WAS ALSO CALLED PAUL, TOLD BY HIMSELF 
AS PRISONER IN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING. 

Happy in Speaking* for Himself. 

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art 
permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul 
stretched forth the hand, and answered for 
himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, 
because I shall answer for myself this day 
before thee touching all the things whereof I 
am accused of the Jews : especially because 
I know thee to be expert in all customs and 
questions which are among the Jews : where- 
fore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. 

Eeviewing* His Former Life. 

My manner of life from my youth, which 
was at the first among mine own nation at 
Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew 
me from the beginning, if they would testify, 
that after the most straitest sect of our reli- 
gion I liyed a Pharisee. And now I stand 
and am judged for the hope of the promise 
made of God unto our fathers : unto which 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 25 

promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving 
God day and night,' hope to come. For which 
hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of 
the Jews. 

Why should it be thought a thing incredi- 
ble with you, that God should raise the dead ? 
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to 
do many things contrary to the name of Jesus 
of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jeru- 
salem: and many of the saints did I shut up 
in prison, having received authority from the 
chief priests; and when they were put to 
death, I gave my voice against them. And I 
punished them oft in every synagogue, and 
compelled them to blaspheme; and being ex- 
ceedingly mad against them, I persecuted 
them even unto strange cities. 

Eepeating" the Wonderful Story. 

Whereupon as I went to Damascus with 
authority and commission from the chief 
priests, at midday, O king, I saw in the way 
a light from heaven, above the brightness of 
the sun, shining round about me and them 
which journeyed with me. And when we 
were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice 
speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew 



26 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 
it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

And I said, Who art thou. Lord? And he 
said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But 
rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have 
appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make 
thee a minister and a witness both of these 
things which thou hast seen, and of those 
things in the which I will appear unto thee; 
delivering thee from the people, and from the 
Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open 
their eyes, and to turn them from darkness 
to light, and from the power of Satan unto 
God, that they may receive forgiveness of 
sins, and inheritance among them which are 
sanctified by faith that is in me. 

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not 
disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but 
shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at 
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of 
Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they 
should repent and turn to God, and do works 
meet for repentance. For these causes the 
Jews caught me in the temple, and went about 
to kill me. 

Having therefore obtained help of God, I 
continue unto this day, witnessing both to 
small and great, saying none other things than 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 27 

those which the prophets and Moses did say- 
should come: that Christ should suffer, and 
that he should be the first that should rise 
from the dead, and should shew light unto the 
people, and to the Gentiles. 

Interrupted in His Narrative. 

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus 
said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside 
thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus ; 
but speak forth the words of truth and sober- 
ness. For the king knoweth of these things, 
before whom also I speak freely: for I am 
persuaded that none of these things are hid- 
den from him; for this thing was not done 
in a corner. 

The Yerdict of the King*, 

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ? 
I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa 
said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me 
to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to 
God, that not only thou, but also all that hear 
me this day, were both almost, and altogether 
such as I am, except these bonds. 

And when he had thus spoken, the king 
rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and 



28 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

they that sat with them : and when they were 
gone aside, they talked between themselves, 
saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of 
death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto 
Festus, This man might have been set at 
liberty, if he had not appealed unto C^sar. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 29 



The Heroic for Christ. 

Am I a soldier of the cross, 

A follower of the Lamb, 
And shall I fear to own his cause, 

Or blush to speak his name ? 

Must I be carried to the skies 
On flowery beds of ease; 

While others fought to win the prize, 
And saird thro' bloody seas? 

Since I must fight, if I would reign, 
Increase my courage. Lord; 

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, 
Supported by thy word. 

Thy saints, in all this glorious war. 
Shall conquer though they die; 

They view the triumph from afar, 
And seize it with their eye. 

When that illustrious day shall rise. 

And all thy armies shine 
In robes of victory through the skies, 

The glory shall be thine. 



30 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



SECTION IV. 

THE EXPERIENCE OF EDWARD EVERETT 
HALE, JR., AS TOLD BY HIMSELF AND RE- 
PORTED FOR THE PAPERS BY ONE WHO 
HEARD HIM. 

[The facts of Professor Hale's conversion have 
become generally known, and yet should be placed 
here in this permanent form. It occurred during 
revival services held in State Street Methodist 
Episcopal Church, Schenectady, N. Y., in December, 
1905, under the direction of the Rev. W. J. Dawson. 
One evening after the sermon, the pastor of the 
church. Dr. Fred Winslow Adams, made an exhor- 
tation, and asked whether any in the congregation 
desired to accept Jesus Christ as their personal 
Saviour. Among those who arose, thereby asking 
for the prayers of the people, was Professor Hale. 
In the meeting next morning he made a public con- 
fession of his conversion, and at once began an 
active part in the evangelistic work then in prog- 
ress in his city. His conversion made a profound 
impression, and he has not failed to turn it to 
account for his newly-found Lord. He tells his 
own story, and a wonderful story he has to tell — 
so simple, clear, and strong.] 

A Striking* Conversion. 

The conversion of a man is always a mir- 
acle ; but most conversions are so commonplace 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 31 

— shall we say? — that one loses sight of the 
power of God. It turns out, therefore, now 
and then, that there is a conversion that seems 
a direct testimony from God. Such an one 
we have in the recent conversion of Edward 
Everett Hale, Jr., son of Edward Everett 
Hale, Unitarian, known throughout our coun- 
try as an author and minister — at present 
chaplain of the United States Senate. 

Not Expecting* the Call from Christ. 

The younger Hale is a professor in Union 
College, New York. He was a Unitarian — a 
man of intellectual life; assuming, of course, 
that he was already saved. Let us hear his 
testimony : 

"Personally I had no expectation that the 
call of Christ would come to me. I think most 
of you here who know me personally will 
agree with me that I was not the man you 
would have expected to confess Christ here in 
this meeting-house. If you will pardon these 
personal references, I will give a few reasons 
why. I am of New England birth, and a New 
Englander is not apt to be carried away by 
anything emotional. I am a man of books, of 
an intellectual life, associated constantly with 
students, and such men do not take such steps 



32 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

under enthusiasm. Most of you are aware of 
the fact that I was a Unitarian, and that they 
are known as a sect which lay more stress on 
reason and intellect than on the heart. Who 
would have thought that I would have been 
led to accept Christ in a revival meeting in 
a Methodist church? No disrespect to this 
church. 

Came to the Cross throug^h Prayer. 

"By my personal experience I can say that 
the way to the cross is through prayer. The 
first sermon preached here by Dr. Daw^son 
was one on prayer, and it was almost by acci- 
dent that I happened to go. I only thought of 
hearing an excellect preacher. I did not find 
much I had not thought of before ; but I said, 
what he says is sensible, and I will try it; 
and as I walked down from church that day 
I prayed that God would give me the best he 
had for me. Monday came, and I gave my- 
self to the ordinary duties of the week. I did 
not go to hear Dr. Dawson at once again. 
It was not until Thursday night that I came 
to this meeting-house; but during that time 
I continued this express prayer, and I must 
admit with a little more interest than usual. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 33 

Conscious of a Curious Changfe. 

"I WENT to hear Dr. Dawson again on Fri- 
day, Sunday, and Monday, and during this 
time I became conscious of a curious change 
which was going on in myself, which I did 
not, and cannot now, explain. Many things 
which had been much to me — indeed, all — 
had ceased to interest me. Interest in life be- 
gan to have a curious dullness in regard to 
some things. I do not mean in the carrying 
on of my regular college duties, but in art, 
literature, nature, etc. I began to have a 
greater love for others, for humanity, for peo- 
ple in general. 

''On Thursday night he preached on The 
Delusions of This Life;' on Friday night he 
preached on the visit of Nicodemus to Jesus 
by night ; on Sunday night he preached on the 
text of the burning bush and how it was not 
consumed by the fire; on Monday night he 
preached on the Greeks who came saying, 'We 
would see Jesus,' and he said that they found 
not a poet, not a philosopher, not a leader of 
the people, but one whose life had been a con- 
stant sacrifice for the salvation of the world. 

A Decision to Follow Christ. 

"Then it was on invitation of my friend, 
Dr. Adams — whom I shall never forget in that 
3 



34 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

respect — I made the decision to follow Christ. 
I said: 'I am a sinner. I am resolved to 
surrender and take up the spiritual ministry 
of Christ.' The call of the cross is not merely 
a call to forgiveness, but a call to love and 
work for Christ. He has said : ^Inasmuch as 
ye have done it unto one of the least of these 
my brethren, ye have done it unto me.' 

"I think there is still something for those 
who come at the eleventh hour. If we have 
the spirit and love of Christ, we will serve 
him in every word and act of our lives. Up 
to the very last of his ministry Christ labored 
with his disciples. At the early morning meal 
by the Sea of Tiberias, the third time that Jesus 
showed himself to his disciples, after that he 
was risen from the dead, he asked Peter three 
times in succession, 'Simon Peter, lovest thou 
me more than all these?' and Christ's answer 
each time was simply. Teed my sheep.' " 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 35 



By Way of the Cross. 

My hope is built on nothing less 
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness ; 
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 
But wholly lean on Jesus' name. 

When darkness veils his lovely face, 
I rest on his unchanging grace; 
In every high and stormy gale, 
My anchor holds within the veil. 

His oath, his covenant, his blood. 
Support me in the whelming flood; 
When all around my soul gives way, 
He then is all my hope and stay. 

When he shall come with trumpet sound, 
O may I then in him be found, 
Clothed in his righteousness alone. 
Faultless to stand before his throne. 

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; 
All other ground is sinkings sand. 



36 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



SECTION V. 

THE EXPERIENCE OF PROFESSOR EDWARD 
EVERETT HALE, JR., AS THE CALL OP 
CHRIST, TOLD BY HIMSELF (DECEMBER 31, 
1905) IN A WATCH-SERVICE ADDRESS; WRIT- 
TEN OUT FOR THE EPWORTH HERALD AND 
USED HERE BY HIS CONSENT. 

[Concerning the story of this remarkable work 
of grace, The Herald editor said ; "It will prove a 
great service to many young people who are now in 
the spiritual struggle, and will help to lead them 
to victory, light, and peace. Its simple clearness 
of statement, making plain what is meant by fol- 
lowing Christ, and the note of reality that is in its 
every sentence, give it remarkable value as an 
evangelistic message. Why should it not be read 
in the devotional meeting, in the older classes in 
the Sunday school, and even in the pulpit? We 
are sure that few more profitable ways of awaken- 
ing personal religious interest could be imagined 
than the effective reading of Professor Hale's 
account of what Christianity has come to mean to 
him."] 

I WOULD speak to you this evening on "The 
Call of Christ." Dr. Adams has asked me to 
speak to you from the standpoint of experi- 
ence, and I certainly shall do so. What other 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 37 

Standpoint could I take ? I am but a layman, 
like yourselves, with nothing more to say to 
you upon spiritual things than has been im- 
pressed upon me by the events of my own life. 
Religious experience is a thing of high value ; 
some individuals and some churches are more 
devoted to worship, some are more concerned 
with faith or creed, and some are more intent 
on showing forth the life of Christ by a right- 
eous life of their own. But others lay more 
stress on experience, which may give a rock 
foundation to faith, a true spirit to worship, 
and an immense incentive to right living. 

I would speak to you on "The Call of 
Christ.'' The expression is quite familiar to 
us, and yet, it may be, if we think definitely 
about it, we shall not be so sure of its meaning 
as we wish. It is couched in figurative lan- 
guage, for one thing. Now, a figure may be 
(like this) a beautiful thing, taking a place in 
our meditation and imagination that nothing 
else could take. We have the best of author- 
ities for using figures in speaking of spiritual 
things. Christ himself constantly used figures 
in speaking to those who followed him. "I 
am the Light of the world," he said, "I am 
the Good Shepherd," 'T am the Door." Some- 
times he would not speak except in figures. 



38 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

But generally things are not as clearly under- 
stood when we use figures as when we use 
direct words; so it was, you will remember, 
with Nicodemus, when he came to Jesus for 
that conference by night. ^^You must be born 
again/' said Christ. But Nicodemus could 
not understand the figure. ''How can a man 
be born again when he is old ?'' said he. "Can 
he enter the second time into his mother's 
womb and be born?" What he wanted was a 
direct statement in plain words. 

Christ in Place of Self. 

So just here there will be advantage in try- 
ing to put, as definitely as may be, this won- 
derful conception into plain words. By the 
Call of Christ, then, I understand that incen- 
tive which comes to a man to give up the per- 
sonal direction of his own life and to take 
rather in everything the command of Christ. 
It is the changing the control by self for con- 
trol by Christ. It may mean chiefly the giv- 
ing up of sin or sins that have become a part 
of one's life ; it includes repentance. It may 
mean chiefly the ceasing one's effort to be a 
self-made man, to build one's own character, 
to live one's life; it includes submission. It 
may mean a change in the entire course of a 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 39 

man's life. It may mean that one leads the 
same life in a different spirit. It may take a 
variety of forms, but it is always a "surrender 
of the individual to the spiritual mastery of 
Christ.'' That is the essential thing. Re- 
pentance of sin, submission of self, devotion to 
God, these are but different phases of a single 
process; a process at the beginning of which 
we are our own man and at the end belong to 
somebody else — to Christ. 

Doubtless it will be a question with some of 
you why anyone should wish to do anything 
of this sort. The nineteenth century was a 
century of individualism, and we Americans 
are strong believers in individuality. Why 
should one wish to give up one's self-mastery, 
one's spiritual self-control? Almost the only 
answer is that people often do wish to. We 
can probably imagine it, even if we have not 
experienced it. There are times in the life of 
everyone when one is tired of the responsibil- 
ity of living one's own life, if nothing more. 
One is tired of one's failures, one is quite as 
tired of one's successes. One is tired of doing 
wrong, but also tired of doing right. There 
are times — rare perhaps in the lives of many — 
when we feel that the past has somehow crum- 
pled up, that we have life to begin over again. 



40 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

Some of us have known personally, all of us 
know by hearsay, of people who fall into such 
hopelessness of life that they not only want to 
give up self-control over their lives, but do 
actually throw their lives away. 

It is not always at such times as these that 
the voice of Christ sounds in our hearts. It 
is heard generally, I believe, at happier times — 
at times when the heart softens with gentler 
feeling. But the recollection of times of deso- 
lation often makes its impression upon our 
hearts and we know what such a feeling is. 
And when the impulse comes to declare our 
desire, our love for Christ, we know what it 
means to surrender our lives at his command. 

His Voice in the Heart. 

What can I say of this great moment of re- 
ligious experience ? First, I beHeve, it should 
be said that we cannot foresee it, that we can- 
not say how it will come. Perhaps, indeed, the 
Call of Christ will not come to us at any given 
moment: it may be gradually borne in upon 
our hearts, so that we wonder if we were ever 
without it. But if it does come to us at a 
given moment, it is most probable that it will 
come in a way we do not expect. We need 
not think that we must confess Christ at a re- 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 41 

vival meeting : on the other hand we need not 
think, because we do not Hke the idea, that we 
shall not do so. I presume that no one who 
knew me had any notion that I should be 
among the converts at this church five weeks 
ago. I certainly did not suppose so myself. 
I am a New Englander by birth and educa- 
tion, and New England is generally thought a 
cold and unemotional part of the country. I 
am by profession a man of books and thought, 
and such men are not apt to be carried away by 
religious enthusiasm. My religion, sincere I 
believe for many years, had certainly been in- 
tellectual rather than emotional. I certainly 
had no notion that I should be converted at a 
revival meeting at a Methodist Church. And 
I offer these words of peculiarly intimate ex- 
perience only that I may enforce upon you the 
thought that you are likely, any of you, to have 
some experience of a kind that you do not 
imagine. Remember Nathanael, who asked if 
any good thing could come out of Nazareth. 
Philip urged him to come and see. He came 
and instantly recognize the Master, whom he 
followed to the end. Let me urge you to keep 
heart and mind open to any, to all influences 
that may have in them anything of God. 
If we do keep heart and mind open and re- 



42 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

ceptive, what shall we do further if we would 
hear the Call of Christ ? Here my only word 
can be that, so far as I know, one must wait, 
do a Christian's duty so far as we see it, and 
pray. Some of you will remember the first 
sermon preached by Dr. Dawson in the late 
mission. It was on prayer : Dr. Dawson took 
this way of emphasizing the idea that held all 
minds throughout the fortnight, the idea that 
it was only by prayer that the full measure of 
return could come to the meetings of the mis- 
sion. I went to hear Dr. Dawson rather by 
accident than of serious intention : I had noth- 
ing further in mind than to hear a good 
preacher. In the sermon I heard little that I 
can now recall that I had not heard elsewhere, 
though it was put with a force and happiness 
that many of us remember well. The ideas 
did not seem especially new to me, but the im- 
portant thing was that I was moved to put 
them into practice. I have always prayed 
from earliest days, with more or less sincerity 
at different periods, and I prayed now, there- 
fore, as I walked along the street on the way 
from church, that God would give me the best 
he had in store for me. I then devoted myself 
to the minor duties of life, perhaps with a 
little more of the spirit of service than usual. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 43 

and gave no more thought to Dr. Dawson for 
some days. I did have it in mind to hear him 
again, however, aUhough various things pre- 
vented me, and I came again on Thursday 
evening. That night he preached a sermon 
on the delusions of the world, the next night 
on the possibility of being born again, on Sun- 
day on religious enthusiasm. 

How the Chang-e Came. 

During this time I was led to continue 
prayer with somewhat indefinite ideas as to 
particular results, and I continued to carry on 
the various lesser duties that one has to others 
as fully as I was able. As the week went on 
I began to be conscious of a curious change in 
myself which I did not and do not now ex- 
plain. My pleasure in the many interests 
which made up my life began to diminish and 
become dull. Instead of desiring to finish up 
the duties of life to turn to its pleasures, I 
found that for the time its pleasures had little 
interest. Art, literature, scholarship, the 
theater, the various things that had filled my 
mind, these things, as well as some others that 
I need not particularize, lost attraction. Fur- 
ther even, plans, possibilities, ambitions of one 
sort and another, of which I had a number in 



44 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

hand, no longer interested me. The only- 
thing that held my attention was my every-day 
work and a certain rather dry bit of philology 
that I had in hand. I noticed this loss of in- 
terest, and entirely without regret. The at- 
traction of nature held on longer than the rest. 
I remember one morning looking out of the 
window at a row of elms which I had for years 
looked at with delight while dressing, taking 
particular pleasure in their change of aspect 
with the changing year. I said to myself, 
quite consciously, 'T wonder if that is going, 
too,'' and before I had finished the sentence I 
was aware that love of nature had gone with 
the rest. Doubtless those interests will return. 
I am sure I hope they will. But for the time 
they left me, and life was without those things 
which had made it worth while. I felt no 
especial lack, however : I belive I was con- 
scious of a greater interest, a greater love, let 
me say, for people in general as I met them or 
saw them. I know that I was by no means 
regretful, but rather pleased that I was the 
better able to devote myself to some rather 
annoying matters that arose just then. I 
found pleasure in very trivial duties in those 
days. I was not without religious thought, 
but religious ideas had little part in the pro- 
cesses of which I speak. 



'^H 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 45 

It was at this point that Dr. Dawson 
preached a sermon in which he pointed out 
what those Greeks saw who told PhiUp that 
they would see Christ. Not a poet, not a 
philosopher, not a leader of the people, but 
one whose life had been a constant sacrifice 
for the salvation of the world. It then became 
clear to me that I had been giving up the ele- 
ment of self in life that I might accept Christ 
as a Master. I therefore openly did so. 

Finding: Christ Supreme. 

What more is to be said ? Suppose we do 
open our hearts to the divine influence. Sup- 
pose we do pray humbly to hear the word of 
Christ. Suppose that in waiting we do take 
up the duties of daily life with a purer spirit 
of service. Suppose we do hear and make the 
great decision. What then? Much, doubt- 
less, but this only let me say. The Call of 
Christ is not only to forgiveness but to love. 
Sin is the predominance of self, and if sin is 
forgiven, what then? Certainly not that self 
may sit hugging itself in solitary joy. But if 
our mind and heart are to be no more absorbed 
with ourselves, in whom shall they be ab- 
sorbed? Who is there but Christ, and those 
in his likeness of whom he said, 'If ye do it 
unto the least of these, ye have done it unto 



46 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

me?'' Remember the word to Peter. Three 
times Christ asked him the question, "Lovest 
thou me?'' And each time that Peter an- 
swered, he said only, "Feed my sheep." 

For how is it with us who have turned to a 
following of Christ at what may seem the 
eleventh hour ? Do we return from the secret 
seasons of the soul into a world that is wholly 
led by Christ, in which a follower of Christ has 
but to join the general concourse as he walks 
in his golden slippers in the sunshine and with 
applause? Do we return to the social world 
and find it given wholly to Christ ? Do we go 
back to business and find Christ's word the 
only guide? Do we turn to politics and find 
Christ without a rival in the guidance of Chris- 
tian nations? I can hardly think so. There 
is room even for the latest comers. There is 
no single person in this church who cannot 
tomorrow, the first day of the year, say a word 
definitely in the cause of Christ. 

Say it. If you have thought it right for me 
to speak as I have, if you have willingly lis- 
tened as I spoke of things that men hold most 
personal, most reserved, most sacred, then you 
must yourselves whenever you feel a word in 
your heart, say it to another, in the service of 
our Master, and for the help, if but for one, of 
those for whom he died. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE, 47 



'*0 Gralilean, Thou Hast Conquered/' 

Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow 
That a time could ever be, 

When I proudly said to Jesus, 
''All of self and none of Thee." 
"All of self and none of Thee/' 

Yet He found me; I beheld Him 
Bleeding on th' accursed tree. 

And my wistful heart said faintly, 
''Some of self and some of Thee." 
"Some of self and some of Thee/' 

Day by day His tender mercy. 
Healing, helping, full and free. 

Brought me lower, while I whispered, 
"Less of self and more of Thee," 
"Less of self and more of Thee/' 

Higher than the highest heavens, 
Deeper than the deepest sea. 

Lord, Thy love at last has conquered, 
"None of self and all of Thee." 
"None of self and all of Thee/' 



48 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



SECTION VI. 

THE EXPERIENCE OF JOHN JASPER, THE 
NEGRO PREACHER; TOLD BY DR. W. B. 
HATCHER IN BAPTIST ARGUS. USED HERE BY 
CONSENT OF EDITOR AND WRITER. 

[Dr. Hatcher was pastor of Grace Street Baptist 
Church, Richmond, Va., for thirty years. He knew 
Jasper well, and often heard him preach. This 
true account of this remarkable man will be full of 
interest, and is wonderfully illustrative of the 
grace of God.] 

Let us bear in mind that at the time of his 
conversion, John Jasper was a slave, illiterate 
and working in a tobacco factory in Richmond. 
It need not be said that he shared the super- 
stitions and indulged in the extravagances of 
his race, and these in many cases have been 
so blatant and unreasonable that they have 
caused some to doubt the negro's capacity for 
true religion. But from the beginning Jas- 
per's religious experiences showed forth the 
Lord Jesus as their source and center. His 
thoughts went to the cross. His hope was 
founded on the sacrificial blood, and his noisy 
and rhapsodic demonstrations sounded a dis- 
tinct note in honor of his Redeemer. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 49 

Jasper's conviction as to his call to the min- 
istry was clear cut and intense. He believed 
that his call came straight from God. His 
boast and glory was that he was a God-made 
preacher. In his fierce warfares with the edu- 
cated- preachers of his race — ''the new issue/' 
as he contemptuously called them — he rested 
his claim on the ground that God had put him 
into the ministry, and so reverential, so full 
of noble assertion and so irresistibly eloquent 
was he in setting forth his ministerial authority 
that even his most skeptical critics were con- 
strained that, like John the Baptist, he was 
a man sent from God. 

And yet Jasper knew the human side of 
his call. It was a part of his greatness that 
he could see truth in its relations and com- 
pleteness, and while often he presented one 
side of a truth, as if that were all of it, he 
saw the other side. With him a paradox was 
not a contradiction. He gratefully recognized 
the human influences which helped him to 
enter the ministry. While preaching one Sun- 
day afternoon Jasper suddenly stopped, his 
face lighted as with a vision, a rich laugh 
rippling from his lips and his eyes flashing 
with soulful fire, saying in a manner never 
to be reported : 
4 



50 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

"Mars Sam Hargrove called me to preach 
de gospel; he was my old marster and he 
started me out wid my message." Instantly 
the audience quivered with quickened atten- 
tion, for they knew at once that the man in 
the pulpit had something great to tell. 

At His Daily Task When the Chang-e Came. 

"I WAS seekin' God six long weeks — jes' 
'cause I was sich a fool I couldn't see de way. 
De Lord struck me fus' on Cap'tal Squar, an' 
I left thar badly crippled. One July mornin' 
somethin' happen'd. I was a tobarker stem- 
mer — dat is, I took de tobarker leaf an' tor'd 
de stem out, an' de won't no one in dat fact'ry 
could beat me at dat work. But dat mornin' 
de stems wouldn't come out to save me, an' 
I tor'd up tobarker by de poun' an' flung it 
under de table. Fac' is, bruthr'n, de darkness 
of death was in my soul dat mornin'. My 
sins was piled on me like mount'ns; my feet 
was sinkin' down to de reguns of despar, an* 
I felt dat of all sinners I was de wust. I 
tho't dat I would die right den, an' wid what 
I supposed was my lars' breath I flung up to 
heav'n a cry for mercy. 'Fore I kno'd it, 
de light broke; I was light as a feather; my 
feet was on de mount'n; salvation rol' like a 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 51 

flood thru my soul an' I felt as if I could 
'nock off de factory roof wid my shouts. 

Could Not Restrain the Good News, 

'*BuT I sez to myse'f, I gwine to hoi' still 
tel dinner, an' so I cried an' laffed an' tore up 
de tobarker. Pres'ntly I looked up de table 
an' dar was a old man — he luv me, an' tried 
hard to lead me out de darknes', an' I slip 
roun' to whar he was, an' I sez in his ear 
as low as I could, 'Hallelujah; my soul is 
redeemed !' Den I jump back quick to my 
wurk ; but after I once open my mouf it was 
hard to keep it shet any mo'. 'Twan' long 
'fore I looked up de line agin, an' dar was a 
good oF 'oman dar dat knew all my sorrers 
an' had been prayin' fur me all de time. Dar 
was no use er talkin'; I had to tell her, an* 
so I skip along up quiet as a breeze an' start 
to whisper in her year, but just den de holin'- 
back straps of Jasper's breachin' broke an' 
what I tho't would be a whisper was loud 
enuf to be hearn clean 'cross Jeems river to 
Manchester. One man sed he tho't de factory 
was fallin' down. All I know'd I had raise my 
fust shout to de glory of my Redeemer. 



52 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

Eecog'nizing' a Work of Glrace. 

"But for one thing thar would er been a 
jin'ral revival in de fact'ry dat mornin'. Dat 
one thing was de overseer. He bulg'd into 
de room an' wid a voice dat sounded like he 
had his breakfus dat mornin' on rasps an' files, 
bellowed out: 'What's all dis row 'bout? 
Somebody shouted out dat John Jasper dun 
got religun; but dat didn't wurk 'tall wid de 
boss. He tel me to git back to my table, an' 
as he had sumpthin' in his han' dat looked 
ugly, it was no time fur makin' fine pints, 
an' so I sed: *Yes, sir, I will; I ain't meant 
no harm. De fus taste of salvation got de 
better un me, but I'll git back to my wurk.' 
An' I tell you I got back quick. 

'' 'Bout dat time Mars Sam, he come out'n 
his orfis an' he say, 'What's de matter out 
here?' An' I hear de overseer tellin' him 
'John Jasper kick up a fuss an' say he dun got 
religun; but I dun fix him an' he got back 
to his table.' De devil tol' me to hate de 
overseer dat mornin', but de luv of God was 
rolin' thru my soul, an' somehow I didn' mind 
what he sed. 

"Little art'r I hear Mars Sam tell de over- 
seer he want to see Jasper. Mars Sam was 
a good man; he was a Baptis', an' one of de 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 53 

hed men of de old Fust Church down here; 
an' I was glad when I hear Mars Sam say 
he wan' to see me. When I git in his orfis 
he say: ^ohn, what was de matter out dar 
jes now?' and his voice was sof like an' it 
seem'd to have a little song in it which play'd 
into my soul like an angel's harp. I sez to 
him : 'Mars Sam, did I ever giv you eny trub- 
ble?' He look at me wid water in his eyes, 
an' he say: *No, John, you never did.' Den 
I broke to cryin', an' I sez to him : 'Mars Sam, 
ever sence de forth er July I ben cryin' after 
de Lord — six long weeks — an' jes now, out 
dar at de table, God tuk my sins away an' 
set my feet on a rock. I didn't mean to make 
no noise. Mars Sam, but 'fore I know'd it de 
fires broke out in my soul an' I jes let go 
one shout to de glory of my Saviour.' 

"Mars Sam was settin' wid his eyes a little 
down to de flo', an' wid a pritty quiv'r in his 
voice he say very slo', 'John, I b'leve dat way 
myself. I luv de Saviour dat you have jes 
foun', an' I wan' to tell you dat I do'n com- 
plain 'cause you made de noise jes now as you 
did.' Den Mars Sam did er thing dat nearly 
made me drop to de flo'. He git out of his 
chair and walk over to me and giv' me his 
han', and he say: 'John, I wish you mighty 



54 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

well. Your Saviour is mine, an' we are bruth- 
ers in de Lord/ When he say dat I turn 
'roun' an' put my arm agin de wall an' held 
my mouf to keep from shoutin'. Mars Sam 
well know de good he dun us. 

Turned Loose to Tell His Story. 

"Art'r awhile he say: 'John, did you tel 
eny of 'em in thar 'bout your conversion?' 
And I say : 'Yes, Mars Sam ; I tel 'em 'fore 
I kno'd it, an' I feel like tellin' ebrybody in 
de worl' about it.' Den he say: 'J^^n, you 
may tell it. Go back in dar an' go up an' 
down de table an' tell all of 'em. An' den 
if you wan' to, go upstars an' tel' 'em all 'bout 
it, an' den go downstars an' tel' de hogshed 
men an' de drivers an' everybody what de 
Lord has dun for yor.' 

"By dis time Mars Sam's face was rainin' 
tears, an' he say: 'John, you needn' wurk no 
mo' today. I giv' you holiday. Art'r you 
git thru tellin' it here at de fact'ry, go up to 
de house an' tel' your wife; go 'roun' to your 
neighbors an' tel' dem ; go enywhere you wan' 
to an' tel' de good news. It'll do you good, 
do dem good, an' help to honor your Lord 
an' Saviour.' 

"O, dat happy day! Can I ever forgit it? 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 55 

Dat was my conversion mornin', an' dat day 
de Lord sent me out wid de good news of de 
kingdom. For mo' den forty years Fve ben 
tellin' de story. My step is gittin' ruther slo', 
my voice breaks down, an' sometimes I am 
awful tired, but still I'm tellin' it. My lips 
shall proclaim de dyin' luv of de Lam' wid 
my las' expirin' breath. 

The Grlad Day Foreshadows the Joy to Come. 

"Ah^ my dear ol' marster! He sleeps out 
yonder in de ol' cemitery, an' in dis worl' I 
shall see his face no mo', but I don't forgit 
him. He giv' me a holiday an' sent me out 
to tel' my frien's what great things God had 
dun for my soul. Oft'n as I preach I feel 
that I'm doin' what my ol' marster tol' me to 
do. If he was here now I think he would 
lif up dem kin' black eyes of his an' say: 
'Dat's right, John; still tellin' it; fly like de 
angel, an' wherever you go carry de gospel to 
de people.' Farewell, my ol' marster. When 
I Ian' in de heav'nly city I'll call at your man- 
sion dat de Lord had ready for you when 
you got dar, an' I shall say: 'Mars Sam, I 
did what you tol' me, an' many of 'em is com- 
in' up here, wid da' robes wash'd in de blood 
of de Lam', dat was led into de way by my 



56 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

preachin', an', as you started me, I wan' you 
to sherr in de glory of da' salvation.' An' I 
tel' you what I reck'n, dat when Mars Sam 
sees me, he'll say: 'John, call me marster no 
mo' ; we're bruthers now, an' we'll live forever 
roun' de thron' of God.' " 

This is Jasper's story, put largely in his own 
broken words. When he told it, it swept over 
the great crowd like a celestial gale. The peo- 
ple seemed fascinated and transfigured. His 
homely way of putting the gospel came home 
to them. Let me add in closing that his allu- 
sions to his old master were in keeping with 
his kindly and conciliatory tone in all that he 
had to say about the white people after the 
emancipation of the slaves. He loved the 
white people, and among them his friends and 
lovers were counted by the thousand. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 57 



The Day of Supreme Joy. 

O happy day that fixed my choice 
On thee, my Saviour, and my God ! 

Well may this glowing heart rejoice 
And tell its raptures all abroad. 

^Tis done, the great transaction's done ; 

I am my Lord's and he is mine; 
He drew me, and I followed on. 

Charmed to confess the voice divine. 

High heaven, that heard the solemn vow. 
That vow renewed shall daily hear. 

Till in life's latest hour I bow. 

And bless in death a bond so dear. 

Happy day, happy day. 

When Jesus washed my sins away; 
He taught me how to watch and pray. 

And live rejoicing every day. 



58 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



SECTION VII. 

EXPERIENCE OF EDWARD EVERETT HALE, JR., 
AND HOW IT INFLUENCED HIS VIEW OF THE 
GOSPEL OF JOHN— TOLD IN THE SUNDAY 
SCHOOL TIMES OF FEBRUARY 2, 1908, AND RE- 
PUBLISHED HERE BY PERMISSION OF HIM- 
SELF AND OF THE EDITOR. 

[Editor C. G. Trumbull's Note. — In the autumn 
of 1905, Dr. Edward Everett Hale, Jr., Professor 
of English in Union College, made public confession 
of his faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. 
His attendance upon a series of revival meetings 
conducted by the English evangelist, Dr. W. J. 
Davison, in the State Street M. E. Church of Schen- 
ectady, New York, was the immediate occasion of 
his taking this step. The turning of a mature man 
to Christ is always of significant interest; when 
the man is of a school of religion that, while noted 
for morality, culture, and high ideals, yet does not 
recognize the work of Christ as a present Saviour, 
his conversion — or, as Professor Hale well terms 
it, his acceptance of "the call of Christ" — is of 
profound and exceptional interest to all Christen- 
dom. In view of these circumstances, the Editor 
has asked Professor Hale to tell the readers of The 
Sunday School Times what significance the Golden 
Text of the current Sunday school lesson^ — the 
heart of the Gospel of Christ — had to one who held 
his former views, and what new significance it 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 59 

assumed after his surrender to Christ. Because 
of his readiness to serve liis newly-found allegiance 
to the uttermost, Professor Hale has graciously 
responded to this request] 

John 3 : 16— What it Meant to Me, and 
What it Means, — By Edward E, Hale, Jr. 

''For God so loved the world, that he gave 
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth 
on him should not perish, hut have eternal life," 

Perhaps, to be perfectly frank, I ought to 
begin by saying that in earlier days this partic- 
ular passage never had any especial signifi- 
cance to me at all. This was chiefly because 
I read the Gospel of John very little, and that 
little without much pleasure or appreciation, 
except for one or two chapters. I thought of 
it as being a comparatively late production, 
and whether it were by John or another, one 
in which the ideas and opinions of the writer 
had had a great effect on what he wrote. To 
my mind — more or less historical, and intent 
on finding in the Gospels material for realizing 
Jesus as a man and a teacher — there was not 
nearly so much of interest in John's Gospel as 
in the wealth of detail to be found in Mark, 
Luke, or Matthew. I ought not to represent 
this as a deliberate comparison, a reasoned con- 



60 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

elusion. I always had read the Bible or heard 
it read, sometimes a great deal, sometimes but 
a little, but I never gave it thorough or even 
very careful study, and my ideas concerning it 
were (and, indeed, must be still) very often 
the result of all sorts of thoughts and feelings, 
sometimes themselves quite forgotten. Still, 
such as the fact was, I mention it ; this partic- 
ular text, as well as the chapter in which it 
occurs, and the whole Gospel of John, never 
were very interesting to me, never took much 
of my attention. 

A Chang-e in His Yiew. 

Today the case is very different. And yet 
I ought not to represent the difference as the 
result of any argument or train of reasoning. 
It happens that this particular text is painted 
on the wall of the mission room in which for 
some time now I have joined in the services 
and helped in the work. Standing, as it does, 
in the constant view of every one who sits on 
the benches, these words become, in a way, 
typical of the whole Christian doctrine and way 
of life that in the mission services and daily 
work we offer and explain and recommend. 
Almost of necessity this particular text gains 
for itself, insensibly, a sort of pre-eminence; 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 61 

one thinks of it, points to it, explains it, believes 
in it, even, more than many other passages 
which in themselves may offer m.ore in some 
especial direction. Other passages, , indeed, 
may be more important, fundamentally or in 
other ways ; this one presents an aspect of the 
gospel that appeals especially to the homeless, 
wandering men who so often read it, and natu- 
rally takes an important place in the hearts 
and minds of us who have so much to do with 
them. 

So in my own thought on these v\^ords com^e 
matters that are personal ; that would be with- 
out weight, perhaps, to another ; that I myself, 
indeed, recognize as being in a measure acci- 
dental. And yet I believe that, however par- 
ticular the facts in question may be, they have 
a certain general character that makes them 
worth noting, not for the sake of accuracy 
only, but because it serves to present clearly 
some important differences. 

In earlier days the Gospel of John was with- 
out interest to me. That seems to me now 
very natural. There was comparatively little 
in it that to me bore the stamp of authenticity, 
for the characteristic events in the life of Jesus, 
and the accompanying teaching, found no par- 
ticular answer in my own experience. I was 



62 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

just as much puzzled as Nicodemus at what 
was said of being born again. I had no par- 
ticular sympathy with the unique confidence 
of the man born blind who had received his 
sight. I saw very little meaning even in Jesus^ 
words of consolation to Martha when she 
grieved, though she knew her brother was to 
rise again at the last day. There is much in 
the Gospel so beautiful that it will reach all 
hearts ; but a good deal of it will, I think, re- 
main a pretty dark saying to one who has not 
tried the great experiment of trusting every- 
thing to Jesus as a living Saviour, with the ex- 
pectation of gaining thereby the life that is in- 
dependent of the conditions of every-day exist- 
ence, and of the death that must come to all. 

So, if I paid little attention to this passage, 
or even to the whole Gospel, it was natural 
enough; it was probably even inevitable. 
What should this particular text have meant 
to one whose definite belief was that Jesus was 
not the only begotten Son of God, but the 
greatest among many sons ; who held that it 
was not by belief in Jesus that one should be 
saved, but rather by incorporating into one's 
own life and character the principles of his 
teaching ; who did not readily conceive of any 
real perishing on the part of those who put 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 63 

their trust elsewhere than in him? One can 
see, I believe, that with such a one this text 
had no great weight, even though it were in the 
Gospel of John, but on the other hand that the 
Gospel lost something by having the text in it. 

Jesus Becomes Divine Saviour. 

On the other hand, let it be the case that this 
passage gains with a given person, say, espe- 
cial importance from its application to the con- 
ditions of mission work in our cities. This, 
too, is not accidental, but really very charac- 
teristic. The text is a fine text for its place; 
but the place it holds is a pretty typical one, 
and the reason that it is good where it is, is 
reason enough for its being good in other very 
different places. For suppose we do not think 
of it as authoritative, but simply as declarative : 
not as a truth that is true because it is ex- 
pressed where it is expressed, but a truth that 
is so to us because it expresses so much that 
we know. Then we see that these few words 
say to us that God is not merely a lawgiver, 
but a Father ; that Jesus is not merely an elder 
brother, but a divine Saviour; that the salva- 
tion he offers is open to any one that will avail 
himself of it; that those who will not take it 
are turning away from the only possibility of 



64 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

true life; that those who come to him are 
thereby beginning upon a Hfe that is independ- 
ent of the conditions of time or place in this 
world or any other. All these things, doubt- 
less, are things that one wants to impress on a 
set of homeless men, hard up or ''down and 
out,'' who come to a mission meeting largely 
because it is a good warm place on a cold night, 
and who yet have some pretty definite idea that 
there is a God, that they have souls, and that, 
somehow or other, they will have to make an- 
swer to him for their life here. But these 
things are only good to impress upon such men 
because these things are also impressed on all 
who accept Christ as their Saviour. They 
are put on the wall of a mission room only be- 
cause written in the hearts of all Christians. 

A New Book Throug-h Experience. 

It is now somewhat more than two years 
since I was called to acknowledge Jesus Christ 
as a living Saviour. It was at a revival meet- 
ing that I did so, and at the end of that meet- 
ing the general advice was given to those who 
had just made decisions, to read the Gospel of 
John. I remember at the time thinking the 
advice was by no means wise or to the point. 
One will easily see the cause of that idea : the 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 65 

Gospel of John had always seemed to me im- 
practical, mystical, philosophical, by no means 
such as to be read by any one who did not have 
already a pretty well grounded faith, and a 
fairly well developed idea of the essentials of 
Christian doctrine and life. I did not at that 
moment appreciate the new spirit with which 
one would read who had just seen reason to 
believe that Jesus was the Son of God, and who 
had in that belief found himself at the begin- 
ning of a new life. I did not understand that 
though the book was written to induce belief, it 
yet had infinitely more meaning to one who 
already did believe. 

At any rate, I did not read it with especial 
care for some time. I did read the Bible with 
a great and new interest : indeed, for a great 
while I could not be interested in anything else, 
and even now I find no book to compare in in- 
terest with it, or with something that explains 
or illustrates it. Still, for various reasons, 
either because there was so much else to read, 
or because there was so much else to do, I did 
not read the Gospel of John with care for some 
time. 

When I did so, I was surprised to see what 
a simple, practical, every-day book it was — 
how entirely different from my earlier concep- 

5 



66 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

tions. Matters which had seemed inexplicable, 
figurative, exaggerated, or without clear or 
definite meaning, were, I found, statements of 
matters of experience that I knew about. Inci- 
dents in the lives of those who had come in 
contact with Jesus in the flesh appeared at once 
to be, in essentials at least, prototypes of inci- 
dents in the lives of those who meet and know 
him today in the spirit only. I think Luke 7 : 
36-50 was the first Gospel story that impressed 
me most forcibly in this way, but among the 
first was the utterance of the blind man in John 
9: 25. This experiential character, as it may 
be called, gave a realizing understanding, not 
only to the rest of the Bible, but particularly, 
perhaps, to the Gospel of John, and not only 
to event or incident, but to much else, as, for 
example, this Golden Text. 

A Grolden Text for Every Day. 

Thus the thought of God as a God of love : 
I must confess that, in spite of the importance 
of this element in my father's preaching, it was 
never a realized element in my own belief. In 
fact, today, I do not see how God is readily 
thought of as a God of love, save as he is re- 
vealed to us as such by Jesus. A God of law 
he was to me, but his law was something exter- 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 67 

nal, something to a great degree arbitrary, 
something in fact that I did not Uke. John in 
his epistle says that we love God because he 
first loved us. Others may see in the order of 
the universe and of human life sufficient evi- 
dence of the love of God for humanity. I do 
not mean that it is not there ; but I did not see 
it till I saw the love of God revealed to us in 
the life and the death and the life everlasting 
of Jesus. That was a light by which I could 
see what had been there before, but unseen. 

So with the rest — it would take too long to 
comment on the whole text — that Jesus is his 
only begotten Son ; that anybody may come to 
him ; that if one does come, one has life ever- 
lasting ; that if one does not, one has not that 
life. All these things mean something to me 
now, because they are a part of my own expe- 
rience; because they have become, not an- 
nouncements of external truth, but expressions 
of what is the natural order of my existence. 

Jesus said that no one comes to the Father 
but by him, that he is the way. It is certainly 
so : but Jesus oflfers himself to the world today 
in many different forms, he reaches out to 
people in all sorts of places, and touches them 
in all sorts of ways. If I can think of any one 
utterance that stood more than another as the 



68 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

means of the revelation of himself that he made 
to me, it would be the words he spoke when 
Philip and Andrew told him of the Greeks who 
wished to see him (John 12 : 24-26). But this 
detail in my own experience is a matter of cir- 
cumstance, of time and place. Other people 
would perhaps see nothing more in those words 
than in a hundred other speeches of his; one 
will find a revelation in John 3 : 14, 15 ; another 
in John 11: 26; another in John 17: 3, and 
others in thousands of other ways. But, how- 
ever different the form of the beginning, the 
end is the same. So to those who have had 
the revelation, the Golden Text of this Sunday 
must be a Golden Text for every day, because 
it contains in a few words so much of personal 
experience and of life-saving truth. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 69 



The One Thing* I Know. 

I know not why God's wondrous grace 
To me he hath made known, 

Nor why unworthy, Christ in love 
Redeem me for his own. 

I know not how this saving faith 

To me He did impart, 
Nor how beHeving in his word 

Wrought peace within my heart. 

I know not how the Spirit moves, 

Convincing men of sin, 
ReveaHng Jesus through the word. 

Creating faith in Him. 

But, "I know whom I have believed. 
And am persuaded that he is able 

To keep that which I've committed 
Unto Him against that day." 



70 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



SECTION VIII. 

THE EXPERIENCE OF SAUL. OF TARSUS, WHO 
WAS ALSO CALLED PAUL, IN CHRISTIAN 
DOCTRINE AND LIFE, AS TEACHER, APOSTLE, 
AISTD PREACHER. TOLD BY HIMSELF FROM 
TIME TO TIME. 

His Conviction of the Lordship of Jesus. 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in 
Christ Jesus : who, being in the form of God, 
thought it not robbery to be equal with God : 
but made himself of no reputation, and took 
upon him the form of a servant, and was 
made in the likeness of men : and being found 
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and 
became obedient unto death, even the death 
of the cross. 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted 
him, and given him a name which is above 
every name: that at the name of Jesus every 
knee should bow, of things in heaven, and 
things in earth, and things under the earth; 
and that every tongue should confess that 
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the 
Father. 

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 71 

loss for the excellency of the knowledge of 
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suf- 
fered the loss of all things, and do count them 
but dung, that I may win Christ. 

Wherefore I give you to understand, that 
no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth 
Jesus accursed : and that no man can say that 
Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. 

And without controversy great is the mys- 
tery of godliness : God was manifest in the 
flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, 
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the 
world, received up into glory. 

His Conviction as to the Scriptures. 

And that from a child thou hast known the 
holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee 
wise unto salvation through faith which is in 
Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by in- 
spiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, 
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 
righteousness : that the man of God may be 
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good 
works. 

I charge thee therefore before God, and the 
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick 
and the dead at his appearing and his king- 
dom; preach the word; be instant in season, 



72 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with 
all longsufifering and doctrine. 

His Experience (or Spiritual Apprehension) of 
the Death and Eesurrection of Jesus. 

I. Stating the Historical Basis. 

For I delivered unto you first of all that 
which I also received, how that Christ died for 
our sins according to the Scriptures ; and that 
he was buried, and that he rose again the third 
day according to the Scriptures. And that he 
was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve : after 
that, he was seen of about five hundred breth- 
ren at once ; of whom the greater part remain 
unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 
After that, he was seen of James ; then of all 
the apostles'. And last of all he was seen of 
me also, as of one born out of due time. 

Therefore whether it were I or they, so we 
preach, and so ye believed. And if Christ be 
not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your 
faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false 
witnesses of God ; because we have testified of 
God that he raised up Christ : whom he raised 
not up, if so be that the dead rise not. But 
now is Christ risen from the dead, and become 
the first-fruits of them that slept. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 73 

2. A Mighty Power in His Life. 

I AM crucified with Christ : nevertheless 
I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : and 
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by 
the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and 
gave himself for me. 

But God forbid that I should glory, save in 
the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom 
the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the 
world. 

According to my earnest expectation and 
my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, 
but that with all boldness, as always, so now 
also Christ shall be magnified in my body, 
whether it he by life, or by death. 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is 
gain. 

3. The Basis of Righteousness. 
But what saith it ? The word is nigh thee, 

even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, 
the word of faith, which we preach; that if 
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord 
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God 
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be 
saved. For with the heart man believeth unto 
righteousness ; and with the mouth confession 
is made unto salvation. 



74 an experience of grace. 

4. Final Resurrection of the Dead. 

But I would not have you to be ignorant, 
brethren, concerning them which are asleep, 
that ye sorrow not, even as others which have 
no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died 
and rose again, even so them also which sleep 
in Jesus will God bring with him. 

For this we say unto you by the word of the 
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto 
the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them 
which are asleep. Behold, I show you a mys- 
tery : we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be 
changed, in a moment in the twinkling of an 
eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall 
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorrupti- 
ble, and we shall be changed. 

For the Lord himself shall descend from 
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the 
archangel, and with the trump of God : and 
the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we 
which are alive and remain shall be caught up 
together with them in the clouds, to meet the 
Lord in the air : and so shall we ever be with 
the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another 
with these words. 

When this corruptible shall have put on in- 
corruption, and this mortal shall have put on 
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 75 

saying, that is written, Death is swallowed up 
in victory. 

Thanks be to God, which giveth us the vic- 
tory through our Lord Jesus Christ. There- 
fore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, un- 
movable, always abounding in the work of the 
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour 
is not in vain in the Lord. 

An Experience oi Personal Eevelation. 
I. Told to the Galatians. 

Though we, or an angel from heaven, 
preach any other gospel unto you than that 
which we have preached unto you, let him be 
accursed. 

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel 
which was preached of me is not after man. 
For I neither received it of man, neither was I 
taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

For ye have heard of my conversation in 
time past in the Jews' religion, how that be- 
yond measure I persecuted the church of God, 
and wasted it: and profited in the Jews' re- 
ligion above many my equals in mine own 
nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the 
traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased 
God, who separated me from my mother's 
womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal 



76 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

his Son in me, that I might preach him among 
the heathen ; immediately I conferred not with 
flesh and blood. 

2. Told to the Ephesians. 

How that by revelation he made known unto 
me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few 
words ; whereby, when ye read, ye may under- 
stand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,) 
which in other ages was not made known unto 
the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his 
holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit ; that 
the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the 
same body, and partakers of his promise in 
Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a 
minister, according to the gift of the grace of 
God given unto me by the effectual working of 
his power. 

Unto me, who am less than the least of all 
saints, is this grace given, that I should preach 
among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of 
Christ; and to make all men see what is the 
fellowship of the mystery, which from the be- 
ginning of the world hath been hid in God, 
who created all things by Jesus Christ : to the 
intent that now unto the principalities and 
powers in heavenly places might be known by 
the church the manifold wisdom of God, ac- 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 77 

cording to the eternal purpose which he pur- 
posed in Christ Jesus our Lord : in whom we 
have boldness and access with confidence by 
the faith of him. 

3. Told to the Corinthians. 

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. 
I will come to visions and revelations of the 
Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen 
years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell ; 
or whether out of the body, I cannot tell : God 
knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third 
heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether 
in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell : 
God knoweth;) how that he was caught up 
into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, 
which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of 
such a one will I glory: yet of myself I will 
not glory, but in mine infirmities. 

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in 
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in 
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am 
weak, then am I strong. 

4. Shown in a Richer Life. 
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my 

tribulations for you, which is your glory. For 
this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole 



78 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

family in heaven and earth is named, that he 
would grant you, according to the riches of 
his glory, to be strengthened with might by his 
Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell 
in your hearts by faith ; that ye, being rooted 
and grounded in love, may be able to compre- 
hend with all saints what is the breadth, and 
length, and depth, and height; and to know 
the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, 
that ye might be filled with all the fulness of 
God. Now unto him that is able to do exceed- 
ing abundantly above all that we ask or think, 
according to the power that worketh in us, 
unto him be glory in the church by Christ 
Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. 
Amen. 

His Experience Severely Tested. 

I. Makes a Record of His Sufferings. 

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as 
a fool,) I am more; in labours more abundant, 
in stripes above measure, in prisons more fre- 
quent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times 
received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was 
I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I 
suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have 
been in the deep ; in journeyings often, in per- 
ils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 79 

mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, 
in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, 
in perils in the sea, in perils among false breth- 
ren; in weariness and painfulness, in watch- 
ings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings 
often, in cold and nakedness. 

Beside those things that are without, that 
which Cometh upon me daily, the care of all 
the churches. Who is weak, and I am not 
weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If 
I must needs glory, I will glory of the things 
which concern mine infirmities. The God and 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is 
blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 
In Damascus the governor under Aretas the 
king kept the city of the Damascenes with a 
garrison, desirous to apprehend me: and 
through a window in a basket was I let down 
by the wall, and escaped his hands. 

2. His Fidelity and Steadfastness. 
I kept back nothing that was profitable unto 
yon, but have shewed you, and have taught 
you publicly, and from house to house, testify- 
ing both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, 
repentance toward God, and faith toward our 
Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go 
bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not know- 



80 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

ing the things that shall befall me there : save 
that the Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city, 
saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 

But none of these things move me, neither 
count I my life dear unto myself so that I 
might finish my course with joy, and the min- 
istry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, 
to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And 
now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom 
I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, 
shall see my face no more. 

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that 
I am pure from the blood of all men. For I 
have not shunned to declare unto you all the 
counsel of God. And when he had thus 
spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with 
them all. 

And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's 
neck, and kissed him. Sorrowing most of all 
for the words which he spake, that they should 
see his face no more. And they accompanied 
him unto the ship. 

3. Ready for the Worst. 

And as we tarried there many days, there 

came down from Judea a certain prophet, 

named Agabus. And when he was come unto 

us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 81 

hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy 
Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind 
the man that owneth this girdle, and shall de- 
liver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And 
when we heard these things, both we, and they 
of that place, besought him not to go up to 
Jerusalem. 

Then Paul answered. What mean ye to weep 
and to break mine heart? for I am ready not 
to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem 
for the name of the Lord Jesus. 

And when he would not be persuaded, we 
ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. 

Ee vie wing* His Experience. 

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great 
love wherewith he loved us, even when we were 
dead in sins, hath quickened us^ together with 
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath 
raised ^cs up together, and made us sit together 
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus : that in the 
ages to come he might shew the exceeding 
riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us, 
through Christ Jesus. 

According to the glorious gospel of the 

blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath 

enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, 

6 



82 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

putting me into the ministry ; who was before 
a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious : 
but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignor- 
antly in unbelief. 

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding 
abundant with faith and love which is in Christ 
Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy 
of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into 
the world to save sinners; of whom I am 
chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained 
mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might 
shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to 
them which should hereafter believe on him to 
life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, 
immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be 
honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

In the Fulness of Persuasion. 

The Spirit himself beareth witness with our 
spirits, that we are the children of God : and if 
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint 
heirs with Christ ; if so be that we suffer with 
him, that we may be also glorified together. 
For I reckon that the sufferings of this pres- 
ent time are not worthy to be compared with 
the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them 
he also called : and whom he called, them he 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 83 

also justified : and whom he justified, them he 
also glorified. What shall we then say to 
these things? If God be for us, who can be 
against us ? He that spared not his own Son, 
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he 
not with him also freely give us all things? 
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's 
elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ 
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who 
is even at the right hand of God, who also 
maketh intercession for us. I am persuaded, 
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, 
nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor 
any other creature^ shall be able to separate us 
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus 
our Lord. 

The Grlorious Consummation. 

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testi- 
mony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner : but 
be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel 
according to the power of God; who hath 
saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not 
according to our works, but according to his 
own purpose and grace, which was given us in 
Christ Jesus before the world began; but is 



84 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

now made manifest by the appearing of our 
Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath aboUshed 
death, and hath brought life and immortality 
to light through the gospel: whereunto I am 
appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a 
teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I 
also suffer these things : nevertheless I am not 
ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, 
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that 
which I have committed unto him against that 
day. 

I am now ready to be offered, and the time 
of my departure is at hand. I have fought a 
(good fight, I have finished my course, I have 
kept the faith : henceforth there is laid up for 
'me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, 
"the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : 
and not to me only, but unto all them also that 
love his appearing. At my first answer no 
'man stood with me, but all men forsook me: 
/ pray God that it may not be laid to their 
charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood 
with me, and strengthened me ; that by me the 
preaching might be fully known, and that all 
the Gentiles might hear : and I was delivered 
out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord 
shall deliver me from every evil work, and will 
preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to 
whom he glory for ever and ever. Amen. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. . 85 



The Day of His Coronation. 

Our Lord is now rejected, 
And by the world disowned, 

By the many still neglected. 
And by the few enthroned, 

But soon He'll come in glory, 
The hour is drawing nigh. 
For the crowning day is coming by and by. 

Let all that look for, hasten 

The coming joyful day. 
By earnest consecration, 

To walk the narrow way, 
By gathering in the lost ones. 

For whom our Lord did die. 
For the crowning day that's coming by and by. 

Oh, the crowning day is coming, 

Is coming by and by. 
When our Lord shall come in ''power,'' 

And "glory" from on high. 
Oh, the glorious sight will gladden 

Each waiting, watchful eye. 
In the crowning day that's coming by and by. 



86 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



SECTION IX. 

EXPERIENCE OP EDWARD EVERETT HALE, JR., 
AND HOW IT CHANGED HIS VIEW OF THE 
RESURRECTION OF JESUS AND OF THE CALL 
OF THE RISEN CHRIST. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF 
AND PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL 
TIMES OP APRIL 4, 1908. USED HERE BY PER- 
MISSION. 

[Editor's Note. — ^Earlier in the year, Professor 
Edward Everett Hale, Jr., whose recent turning 
from the Unitarian belief to a public confession of 
Jesus Christ as Saviour made a profound impres- 
sion upon many, told the readers of The Sunday 
School Times what John 3: 16, the heart of the 
Gospel of Christ, meant to him before and after 
his conversion. He has now been asked by the 
Editor to write an Easter message, and he does 
so in this expression of the resurrection truth 
which the passing of two Easters in his new-found 
life has given deepening reality and power.] 

John 2o: i6 — ''Jesus saith unto her, Mary. 
She turneth herself, and saith unto him, Mas- 
terr 

It was almost twenty-five years ago that, as 
I was sitting in a railroad train at a station, 
I heard some one outside pronounce the name 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 87 

''''''^'■' ^ . ^ .. -!^ 

of her sister in such a way that I do not for- 
get it, even after a quarter of a century. It 
was a Httle girl, and she was very glad to get 
her sister home again. There is much just 
in a name when pronounced by a person capa- 
ble of feeling deeply. There may be more in 
a name than could be expressed in volumes, 
just as there may be more in a moment than 
can be expressed in a lifetime. So it was 
when Jesus called Mary by name, and she 
called him Master. 

Some artists — and some scholars, too, per- 
haps — have liked to believe that the Mary 
here mentioned was the same Mary that was 
sister of Lazarus of Bethany, and others have 
thought that she was the woman that was a 
sinner, to whom Jesus said that her sins were 
forgiven because she had loved much. And 
others have gone rather farther afield, even, and 
have imagined much about Mary Magdalene 
and her wonderful life before she met Jesus, 
and her v/onderful life afterward. It is as 
though there were not enough in the simple 
words of the Gospel. 

An Old Word with New Meaning*. 

Historically speaking, any of these things 
might be true (provided, of course, there were 



88 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

the proper evidence). Yet it would add little, 
indeed nothing at all, to the essential meaning 
of the passage in John that describes how 
Mary turned from the tomb and saw the man 
whom at first she took to be the gardener. Of 
Mary Magdalene, it is said by Mark and by 
Luke that Jesus had cast out of her seven 
devils : she was one that had been saved by 
Jesus, and she loved him for it. V/hen one 
has that in mind, one reads those simple words 
and they seem so full qf meaning that nothing 
could be added to them. ''Mary — Master;'' 
one almost hesitates to pronounce them aloud 
because they sound so thin and poor compared 
to what they ought to be. 

An Experience of Abiding* Power. 

That was a meeting that had the essentials 
in it. Perhaps no one of us has ever heard 
Jesus pronounce our name: we may never 
have answered him in the one word, Master. 
But thousands, millions, of us have at some 
time recognized in Jesus a Risen Saviour, 
have felt that he called us, ourself, and have 
answered (in whatever word or act) just as 
Mary answered. 

It is now two years and four months ago, 
almost to a day, that I did so. And when 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 89 

shortly afterward I turned to the Bible, I 
found that certain passages in it were very dif- 
ferent from what they had previously been. 
As I remember, this passage in John was not 
among those that I read first — the one that 
first impressed me was Luke 7 : 36-50, a pas- 
sage which some have supposed concerned 
this very Mary of Magdala, though I believe 
there is no good reason for the idea. An- 
other was the account of Nathanael in the first 
chapter of John. These stories of how people 
had had to do with Jesus when he was here 
on earth, I began suddenly to find vital with 
a reality which was, one might almost say, 
the surest pledge of inspiration. It was not 
that, as has been said, I saw that such pas- 
sages were inspired because they inspired 
me ; they did not inspire me. They and I had 
received inspiration at a common source; but 
having received it, I recognized it. 

It seems as though that must be the expe- 
rience of all those who, as John says at the 
end of this chapter, have beHeved on Jesus, 
and believing have life in his name. They 
can feel, in this sixteenth verse, that strange 
thrill of recognition which tells us that what we 
read is a bit of essential truth to which we can 
answer out of our experience. 



90 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

Mary found that Jesus was not a dead 
teacher, but a Hving Master. He had said 
that he would come again, but doubtless Mary, 
like John himself, had little true idea of a 
resurrection. Even if she had believed that 
Jesus would rise again, she did not expect it 
to be in this intimate, personal manner. But 
that is not strange. There are today thou- 
sands of people who have been told, and who 
have no wish to dispute it, that Jesus rose 
from the dead and still lives at the right hand 
of the Father — and who yet have never had 
the personal experience that Mary had here at 
this moment, have never heard the voice of 
Jesus (not in the physical ear, but by the 
Spirit), and so have never really answered 
and acknowledged him as Master. They have 
heard him spoken of, but have never heard 
him speak. They may have spoken of him, 
but have never spoken to him. 

Experience Versus Arg-ument. 

A living Saviour: that was what Mary 
found. 'Weir' (it may be urged), "but after 
all, this is no proof of the matter ; she may have 
been mistaken. The passage itself shows that 
he looked like the gardener. The other Gos- 
pels tell us other things. There is nothing here 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 91 

to prove the matter." Perhaps not; in fact, 
without a doubt not, as argumentative proof 
is commonly reckoned. But argument was 
not Jesus' way. I am sure he never gained 
Mary Magdalene by argument, nor Mary of 
Bethany, nor that woman that was a sinner, 
nor Peter, nor Matthew, as far as that is con- 
cerned, nor anybody else that we read of in 
the Gospels. Nicodemus seems to have con- 
sidered the matter calmly and weighed the 
evidence, but he is the only one I think of 
now. No, it is not argumentative proof, of 
course; indeed, why think of it as argument 
at all? Those who understand it need no 
proof, and those who do not understand it 
must (and may) get their proof in some other 
way. 

But it does not make the story different — 
that Mary found that Jesus her Lord was 
alive. That is the great thing, that Jesus is 
a living Saviour, and therefore is still with us. 
Still with us! I suppose thousands of those 
who confess his name do not realize that, and 
thousands of those who at heart believe it still 
do not act upon it. A living Saviour still with 
us, so that spiritual life is not doing certain 
things or feeling in certain ways, but knowing 
Jesus and beheving in him. 



92 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

I remember, a year or so ago, talking with 
a man immensely interested in social and re- 
ligious matters. We had been talking of a 
preacher whom we both knew, and he said 
that his preaching seemed merely "the old 
orthodoxy dressed up in modern culture." I 
said that I was not quite sure as to what he 
meant by the old orthodoxy, but that I thought 
the essential thing about our friend's preach- 
ing was to impress the truth that Jesus was a 
living, spiritual power still. "That is the 
idea," I went on, "in every mission room or 
revival service, I take it, that Jesus himself 
stands there ready to call any one by name 
who really wants him." 

He seemed interested in this view. "Well," 
said he, "that seems a very simple theology." 

Very Simple to the Believing* Heart. 

So it is, eminently simple. If it were not, 
it would not appeal to so many, just as it ap- 
pealed to Mary. That personal touch: get 
that, and you will find that it is the one thing 
needful. Without that I cannot easily see 
what is the immediate value of one set of 
opinions or another. That Jesus is today the 
great Redeemer of the soul, that he has act- 
ually the power and the will to make one dif- 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 93 

ferent, to change one's nature here and now, 
to forgive sin and give eternal life (to use 
theological language for everyday facts), and 
that he actually does do this to people today — ■ 
if one does not get that, what lesson does one 
get from the resurrection except as a piece 
of history? What shall we think of Mary's 
meeting her Master in the garden except as 
material for romance? 

But if we do believe that, what is the use 
of hundreds of the things we do, and how 
can we bear to think of the hundreds of things 
that we do not do ? ''Increase our faith," said 
the disciples, even when he was with them. 
''Increase our faith,'' say those even with the 
liveliest sense of a personal relation. But 
how much we need to use to the uttermost 
that faith we have! And as for those who 
have no realizing faith at all, what of them? 
What has this resurrection lesson for them ? If 
not yet what it has for others, still it cannot be 
without its persuasive power. It represents a 
possibility for every one, and any one by try- 
ing can make the possibility into a reality. 



94 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



^'Alas for him who never sees 
The stars shine through his cypress trees ; 
Who, hopeless, lays his dead away. 
Nor looks to see the breaking day 
Across the mournful marbles play ; 
Who hath not learned, in hours of faith, 
The truth to flesh and sense unknown — 
That Life is ever Lord of Death, 
And Love can never lose its own/' 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 95 

SECTION X. 

LESSONS FEOM THE THEEE. 

In the foregoing pages we have real men 
with genuine work of grace. They illustrate 
the facts and forces of Christian experience, 
and emphasize lessons which we do well to 
learn afresh. It is the old story of grace — like 
the sun, old as creation and yet new every 
morning. 

To all human appearances and expectations, 
these men were beyond the call of Christ and 
beyond the reach of his saving power — at least 
outside the sphere where Jesus of Nazareth 
was supposed to pass by. And yet he found 
them and they responded to his call. Unlike 
they were in many things, and yet wonderfully 
alike in the basal elements of their experience 
of grace. 

Facts to 1be Accounted For. 

With each of the men there was the awak- 
ening, the sense of sin and need, the coming to 
the cross, a conscious change in losing the bur- 
den as the light came in and the darkness disap- 



96 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

peared, the distinct decision for Christ with 
the distinct surrender of self, the satisfaction 
in Christ with confidence and peace and even 
outbreak of joy, the setting of their Hfe to new 
purpose and noble service to have all the world 
know Christ and the riches of grace which are 
in him. So the Spirit of God wrought out for 
them their blessed hope and put a new song in 
their heart. 

We need to insist on the facts of Christian 
experience — simply as /ac/^ illustrated here and 
requiring to be accounted for. The facts of 
the human body are the basis of physiology; 
the facts of mind are the basis of mental philos- 
ophy; the facts of conscience are the basis of 
moral science; the facts of the human spirit 
(man's spiritual nature) are the basis for "The 
Philosophy of Christian Experience'' — if we 
may use the title of a suggestive book recently 
pubHshed. The human spirit and the things 
of the spirit are none the less real because in- 
visible and intangible ; for that matter the sen- 
sations of the body can neither be seen nor 
handled. And "there is something in man, call 
it what you may, that can see the invisible, 
hear the inaudible, and feel the intangible." 

Facts concerning mind and spirit are as real 
as facts concerning matter and body. Heart- 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 97 

ache is as real as head-ache; soreness of soul 
as real as soreness of body ; a sense of sin, an- 
guish of spirit — these are mighty realities, and 
oftentimes overpower the stoutest natures. 
Hunger for God is as real as hunger for bread 
— one as the cry of the body in its urgent need, 
the other as the cry of the soul in its deeper 
sense of want. "As the hart panteth after the 
water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O 
God," is the cry of many a stricken spirit. And 
the souFs satisfaction in Christ is as true — one 
of the cardinal facts in Christian experience — 
as when one drinks at the fountain and thirsts 
no more. 

I heard the voice of Jesus say, 

"Behold, I freely give 
The living water, thirsty one, 

Stoop down, and drink, and live." 
I came to Jesus, and I drank 

Of that life-giving stream; 
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, 

And now I live in him. 

This is the simple testimony of thousands out 
of all classes and communities and centuries — 
thousands of thousands who know Christ and 
know what he has done for them. These are 
facts in the sphere of spirit — spiritual facts, 
but none the less real because they are spiritual. 
7 



98 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

We may make them the subject of study, must 
classify them in our thinking, and make room 
for them in our conclusions concerning God 
and man and human destiny. They are em- 
phasized here simply as facts, and must be ac- 
counted for in Christian experience. 

Wroug'ht in the Deeper Nature. 

While this experience is spiritual — wrought 
by the Spirit of God with the human spirit, it 
is described in physical terms. It is a change 
of heart — the heart of stone removed and in its 
place a heart of flesh ; it is a translation from 
the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of 
God's dear Son ; it is a new creation in Christ 
Jesus with old things having passed away and 
all things become new ; it is the making alive 
one who is dead in trespasses and sins, and 
raising him up with Christ and giving him a 
seat in the heavenly place with the heavenly 
song ; it is being born again — born from above 
— born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, 
nor of the will of man, but of God; it is a 
revelation of self, of God, of Christ, of eternal 
things — a revelation not made by flesh and 
blood, but by the Father in heaven working 
through the Holy Spirit. This marvelous 
change is all these things in one, utterly beyond 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 99 

human power to accomplish and beyond human 
speech to define or describe. And yet is as 
common and real and powerful, as the rising 
of the sun, or the coming of a storm, or the 
opening of a flower. 

The Rev. G. Campbell Morgan has said: "There 
came into the inquiry-room a rag-picker, a great, 
gaunt old man who had grown hoary in the service 
of sin and Satan. . . . There in our inquiry- 
room he knelt, and I knelt by him, and I felt quite 
at home as I spoke to him of the blood that cleans^ 
eth from all sin. ... I looked around, and 
there, kneeling next to me, was the mayor of the 
city, a man about as old as the rag-picker, but a 
man who had all the marks of culture and refine- 
ment. I happened to know that some time before 
the mayor had sentenced the rag-picker to a 
month's hard labor ; he had got out a month ago. 
There they were, side by side. Presently the light 
that had broken on the rag-picker broke on the 
mayor, and I found that the blood needed there 
w^as needed here, and I found that the life sufhcient 
there was sufficient here. When the men rose, the 
mayor said to the rag-picker, 'Well, we didn't meet 
here last time.' *No, we will never meet again 
like we did the last time, praise God!' was the 
answer." 

At the cross, at the cross, 

Where I first saw the light, 
And the burden of my heart rolled away ; 

It was there by faith 

I first saw the light, 
And now I am happy all the day. 



100 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

So it was with Bunyan's Pilgrim ; so it was 
with Saul of Tarsus ; so it was with Professor 
Hale; so it was with John Jasper; so it w^as 
with the mayor and with the rag-picker; so 
with the countless hosts who serve Christ on 
earth with joy and gladness, and with the vast 
multitude which no man can number of those 
who worship around the throne, having 
washed their garments and made them white 
in the blood of the Lamb. 

Manhood and Christian Doctrines. 

Sections seven, eight, and nine have specific 
lessons and show some of the blessed fruitage 
of an experience of grace. One sees there 
how Professor Hale came to a new view of the 
Scriptures, especially of the Gospel of John, 
and saw the great doctrines in a new light. 
This is of immense importance as showing the 
need for spiritual apprehension in the interpre- 
tation of Christ and his Gospel. We must 
know him before we can rightly know his 
word, for it is spiritually discerned. See, too, 
how he construes his experience in terms of 
high service. What he felt in his soul meant 
for him the Call of Christ. In his "experi- 
ential character" all was changed. The Bible 
was a new book, and Jesus became his Saviour 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 101 

and his Lord. Henceforth life should be an 
answer to that wonderful "Call" — the call of 
grace which made him a new man. 

We get a new view also of Saul of Tarsus, 
who was also called Paul, in following his ex- 
perience of grace as it enlarges and ripens in 
Christian doctrine and life. The very change 
of name marked his transition, the develop- 
ment and enrichment in his doctrinal and "ex- 
periential character" and lofty living. 

He had some things, of course, quite above 
the other two men — things not only extraor- 
dinary, but transcendent, and even miraculous, 
as special fitness for a special task. But even 
those things had their foundation in his expe- 
rience of grace; and besides they are not the 
subject of study here, though of infinite mo- 
ment in their exceptional character and spe- 
cific purpose. They do not separate between 
Saul of Tarsus and the other two men in the 
experience of grace which was common and 
alike powerful with all of them. Nor must 
Saul of Tarsus or the other men be held aloof 
as dififering essentially from others in their 
experience — even from any others who come 
to know Christ in the forgiveness of sin and in 
the blessed work of the Spirit of God. The 



102 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

same grace is rich unto all to the glory of God 
in the face of Jesus Christ. 

The experience of Saul, who was also called 
Paul, brought with it and gave him a doctrinal 
conscience and doctrinal conviction. This is 
marked everywhere in what he said and 
wrote, and was the dominant power in his life. 
It was often evinced in that stout word of his 
— "before God I speak the truth and lie not'' — 
which came burning from his soul and crash- 
ing like thunder. And that, too, whether he 
were testifying for the risen Christ, or de- 
claring what the Spirit of God had wrought 
in his heart, or standing for the defense of the 
Gospel which had been committed to his trust. 

We do not emphasize as we should the 
great doctrines, as of individual experience, 
and in their relation to character. Christian 
doctrines when held in the heart make Chris- 
tian character, and Christian character makes 
Christian life — the blossom and fragrance and 
fruitage of an experience of grace. They are 
the metal in the blood, giving tone, strength, 
vigor, and making Christ-like. Without them 
the strongest is weak ; with them the weakest 
is strong. From their spiritual apprehension 
come Christian manhood and the manly life. 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 103 

With the Accent of Conviction. 

Saul of Tarsus with his experience of 
grace, became Paul with his experience in 
doctrines, and was mighty in the doctrines of 
grace. From the day he met his Lord on the 
highway to Damascus he never once wavered 
in his conviction of the Lordship of Jesus, till 
the day he laid down his armor and his cross- 
bearing, and received the crown from his Lord 
the righteous Judge. With him, to the very 
center of his being, the question of the death 
and resurrection of Jesus, with their tremen- 
dous doctrinal import and "experiential" power, 
was a settled question. With him there was 
no interrogation point at the new tomb of 
Joseph of Arimathea. This was his convic- 
tion as to both the fact and its meaning. He 
knew his Lord as the risen Christ, and that 
was the end of controversy. He no more 
questioned the resurrection of his Lord or the 
final resurrection, than you question your see- 
ing these lines as you read. This was his doc- 
trine, and his doctrine was his conviction, and 
he measured everything from this as being the 
final end. And so he preached Christ and him 
crucified in the demonstration of the Spirit 
and of power. 

So closely allied with Paul's experience of 



104 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

grace were the great doctrines, that his doc- 
trinal statements, instead of being dead for- 
mula, were the expression oftentimes of his 
own experience and always of his convic- 
tions. For example, the great fact and doc- 
trine of the atonement as to its efficacious 
and voluntary and vicarious nature, he states 
most powerfully in terms of his own experi- 
ence : "I am crucified with Christ ; neverthe- 
less I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ; 
and the life which I now live in the flesh, I 
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved 
me and gave himself for me." So also out of 
his own experience as a doctrinal conviction he 
states the great fact of salvation and righteous- 
ness through Jesus Christ : "If thou shalt con- 
fess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt 
believe in thine heart that God hath raised 
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For 
with the heart man believeth unto righteous- 
ness ; and with the mouth confession is made 
unto salvation.'' These great doctrines came 
through his heart-experience, wrought them- 
selves into his "experiential character," and 
made him a new man and strong" in Christ Jesus. 
The doctrinal experience of Saul of Tarsus 
gave the accent of conviction to his life as well 
as to his teaching and preaching. "I was not 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 105 

disobedient to the heavenly vision;'' ''we 
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the 
Lord;" "I believe, and therefore speak," and 
this spoke he concerning his knowledge that 
God had raised Jesus from the dead. "For me 
to live is Christ ;" "and the love of Christ con- 
straineth me ;" "and our life is hid with Christ 
in God." 

The Creed of Imperial Power. 

A CREED without personal experience and 
conviction, is a creed without power. A man's 
real creed is not so much in the doctrine he 
holds as in the doctrines which hold him. This 
is doctrinal conviction wherein great doctrines 
have conquered through spiritual apprehen- 
sion, and hold dominion in one's soul. This is 
the creed which makes one mighty in his deeds 
and makes life abundant in labor — beautiful 
as to character and rich as to fruitage. This 
is the undergirding in Christian life and ser- 
vice ; this is what gives the heroic virtues and 
makes the heroic man ; this is Christian man- 
hood, and is far removed from the man with- 
out a creed, or from the creed with which there 
is no power of heart-experience. 

So it was with Saul of Tarsus, who was also 
called Paul. His doctrinal conscience and 



106 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 

conviction were imperial in his character, and 
imperious in determining his course of con- 
duct. They gave him everywhere a high 
standard of Hving, and his allegiance to Jesus 
Christ as Saviour and Lord was supreme. It 
was the one touchstone as to how he should 
live, and what he should teach and preach. 
There v/as no middle ground for him. He 
would withstand an apostle, or even an angel 
from heaven, who should preach any other 
gospel. He had caught the very spirit of his 
Lord, and loved lost men with a love well-nigh 
consuming. He counted his Hfe not dear 
unto himself, but was ready to die for the 
Lord Jesus, if by any means he might save 
some and finish his course with joy, and the 
ministry which he had received of him to tes- 
tify the gospel of the grace of God. 

In all Saul of Tarsus was or did, he an- 
chored himself in his experience of grace. 
''None of these things move me," was his word, 
quiet but like the eternal hills, when told that 
bonds and afflictions awaited him in every city 
— ready to die or ready to live — always and 
everywhere the heroic for Christ, if only the 
gospel of his grace might be preached and the 
coming of his kingdom be hastened. ''Accord- 
ing to my earnest expectation and hope, that 



AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 107 

in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with 
all boldness, as always so now also Christ shall 
be magnified in my body, whether by life or 
by death." And without shadow or murmur, 
but rather with exultant confidence and tri- 
umphant joy, he rested all in that one word of 
blessed experience of the grace of God: "I 
know whom I have believed, and am persuaded 
that he is able to keep that which I have com- 
mitted unto him against that day." The day 
he came to know his Lord brought the settle- 
ment for all other days, and laid the foundation 
for his hopes for time and eternity. 



108 AN EXPERIENCE OF GRACE. 



An Expression of the Experience. 

I LOVE thy kingdom, Lord, 
The house of thine abode. 

The Church our blest Redeemer saved 
With his own precious blood. 

I love thy Church, O God : 
Her walls before thee stand. 

Dear as the apple of thine eye. 
And graven on thy hand. 

For her my tears shall fall. 
For her my prayers ascend. 

To her my cares and toils be given, 
Till toils and cares shall end. 

Beyond my highest joy 
I prize her heavenly ways, 

Her sweet communion, solemn vows, 
Her hymns of love and praise. 

Sure as thy truth shall last. 

To Zion shall be given, 
The brightest glories earth can yield, 

And brighter bliss of heaven. 



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